Bears - IUCN

While visitor-use on a park-wide scale seemed to be independent of seasonal
bear activity, these data indicate that density of black bears in local areas can
likely be affected by people quite dramatically. In fact, visitors and poachers
are probably the greatest factors influencing the areas of high and low concentrations
of bears within the park.
Further evidence of the role of people in influencing bear populations was obtained
from the two most productive index trails for scat (Sugarlands and Bullhead).
Both of these trails are located close to Highway 441, the only major
highway crossing the park and over which millions of visitors pass each year.
The Bullhead trail also traverses Mt. LeConte where a number of bears are
attracted by a lodge and its garbage dump. Also, the above two areas (Sugarlands
and Bullhead) are relatively well protected from poachers and dogs as compared
to other areas within the park. Areas along the Elkmont and Tremont
trails are also relatively well protected and revealed a higher incidence of scat.
Several possibilities may account for the higher numbers of scat at high elevations
within the park. However, data are inconclusive at this time. Because of
the greater rainfall, steeper grades and more exposed trails at higher elevations
, one would expect scat to disappear much more quickly than at low elevations.
However, preliminary data indicate that bear scat are highly resistant
to weathering. Observational data indicate that scat at high or low elevations
remains identifiable for at least two weeks.
Through the use of survey forms distributed by index-trail hikers to backpackers
, much data can be obtained concerning observations of bears and bear
activity. As more and more bears are individually marked in the population,
and index-trail hikes are continued, the increasing amount of data will lend
itself to various indirect population estimation techniques, analyses of movement
of bears in relation to altitude and location, and the influence of people
on the bear population.
Thus far, index trails have provided enough scat to analyze the food habits of
black bears as influenced by season, altitude and location in the park. Also,
preliminary information from the incidence of scat of other mammalian populations
(bobcat, fox and European wild boar) indicates that these animals could
be evaluated in the same way and in conjunction with bear index trail hikes.
Index trails and scat collections also lend themselves to possible 'fecestagging'
techniques such as radioactive isotopes, dyes, or the use of inert rare
earths through Activation Analysis. Thus, captured bears (or other large
vertebrates) could be injected with an identifiable 'feces-tag'. Then, when
scat is later picked up on index trails, it could reveal movement information
as well as population estimates through a ratio of tagged to untagged feces.
Alone, the index trails have provided an invaluable tool for evaluating black
bear populations in the GSMNP. In combination with other data (live bear
observations) and other techniques (telemetry and/or 'feces tags'), much new
knowledge will be revealed about the ecology and natural history of the black
bear in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
REFERENCES
GILBERT, D. L. 1951. Economics and related biology of the black bear in
Colorado. M. S. Thesis. Colorado A. & M. Coll., Fort Collins. 164 pp.
SPENCER, H. E., Jr. 1955. The black bear and its status in Maine. Maine
Dept. Inland Fisheries and Game, Div. Bull. 4. 55 pp.
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